WWE Hits Back at Nowinski

Former wrestler and anti-head-trauma advocate Chris Nowinski said some very critical things about Senate candidate Linda McMahon and the WWE in a recent interview with NECN, alleging that the WWE encourages steroid use and provides an unsafe environment for its wrestlers. While the McMahon campaign has not responded, to my knowledge (an email to the campaign was not returned--then again, it was only one email), the WWE has.

The WWE emailed this response to Nowinski's criticisms today:

WWE RAISES CREDIBILITY ISSUES FOR CHRIS NOWINSKI

•Chris Nowinski did not reveal, as required, that he suffered previous concussions before signing his contract with WWE.

•He states WWE suggested that its performers take steroids. However, at no time does he ever state that it was suggested that he do so.

•His comments that WWE talent perform in matches 200 days a year is not factual. In 2009, the average active roster talent performed 135 days.

•A sheer fabrication --- that he went through tables four days a week.

•Mr. Nowinski states, "They have an environment where it's absolutely unsafe to work in that ring." "They have no oversight into what actually happens in the ring." If so, then why would Mr. Nowinski have ever wanted to be a part of such an environment?

•It is very dubious that he ever had a conversation with Lance Cade much less Lance Cade confiding to a total stranger that he used painkillers and steroids.

•Although renowned in the field of CTE, we are unaware of any specific qualifications or medical degrees that he possesses which would qualify him as an expert on steroids and pain killers.

McMahon and the WWE are inextricably linked on the campaign trail as the former CEO vies for Connecticut's open Senate seat: when Democrats attack McMahon, they attack the WWE. It's probably fair to say that McMahon's Senate campaign has brought more negative press to the WWE than it's had in years, as her political opponents make hay out of steroids, workplace safety, and the WWE's racy televised storylines.

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Chris Good is a political reporter for ABC News. He was previously an associate editor at The Atlantic and a reporter for The Hill.